Electrical signaling system



, July 29, 1947. A. A.' cfHERoN ELECTRICAL SIGNALING SYSTEM '.File'd March 1o, 1943 INVENTOR ATTORNEY 9 Patented July 29, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l 1 2,424,566 Y l ELCTRL SGNALG Amedeo A. C. Heron, Paris;` France, Vassigner to International-Standard Electric Corporation, New York; N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application Manuf-1t, 1943, serial No, 478,702 Iii France June 6, '1940 The present invention relates to electric systems for automatic transmission of impulses of predetermined duration at set time intervals An object of the present invention is to provide a system of this character which is dependable and whose speed is vastly increased over that of systems now in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a system which requires but a small number of control elements yet permits of a great number of combinations of time intervals a1; Which-imi pulses may be transmitted. l 1

In brief, I accomplish these objects of the invention by the use of differential relays insuring rapid action and by such correlation of elements that the possible number of different time inter-` vals between successive impulses increases manifold by the addition of merely a few control de-` vices.

Thus, in the system described by way of exam-J ple in the followingspecication, 32 diierentintervals may be obtained by means of but 10 relays (AAi, AAz, BB1, 8130.). l,

Moreover, by adding merely two more relays,

it is possible to obtain 64 combinations and "so forth, the number of combinations being doubled by each pair of relays added.

With these and other objects in view, as will become more apparent hereinafter, `my impulse transmission control system is fully described in the following speciiication and illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawing= Y In the drawing, element MM designates a starting key, button or similar element operating circuit. Members C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, 010,615, G20, G25` and Cao are control contacts in the branchesgof a holding circuit which may be opened andi closed by means of any conventional switch or the like (indicated in each instance as a vpush button switch) which permits actuation of these contacts in any desired order. The action of key MM may of course be combined with that of each of con: trol contacts C1, C2, C3, etc. l 1

Reference letters Iu designate the transmitting circuit over which the impulses are` to b e ,transe mitted at certain time intervals. Key MM- and control contacts C1, C2 Cs, etc., are` connected (over circuits fully described hereafter) to the vibrator relays V1, V2, the holding relayv I `and the various diiierential relays AA1', A2, 331, Blz, CCi, CO2, DDi, DDz, EEi, EEz. ''heSe relays G- operate with the respectivecontacts placedo'posite them, such as T1, T2', T3, Rij, R2, Tix, T215, "as shown in the drawing.

If it is desired to' transmit fmpissat `-1i claires-f (o1. 177-353) g separate contact pieces C1.

2 of 116 of a second, for instance, the following circuit is set up:

First, starting key or button MM is depressed and the switching device put in position C1 to When key MM is depressed, vibratory relay V2 is energized. In its working position, relayVz attracts its contact T1 and completes transmitting circuit 111. As a result, anA impulse is transmitted. At the saineV time, relay V2 attracts its contact T2 and closes the energizing circuitof vibrator relay V1. When the latter is energized, it attracts its contact T1 andopens the energizing' circuit of relay V2. Relay V2 thereupon releases its contacts and returns to iest position. As a result, transmitting circuit Id is interrupted at contact R1 of relay V2, while the circuit of relay V1 is interrupted at its contact R2 and relay V1 releases its contacts and returns to fest position: By releasing its contacts, relay V1 re=establishes connection between its contacts T1, R1,4 whereby the energizing circuit of relay V2 is restored; Relay V2 is thereupon re=-ener gized, andthe cycle of operations just described rpats'itself; vibrator relays V1 and V2 are al' ternately energized and deenerg'i'zed and this pulsaticn causes the transmission 'of an impulse over transmitting* circuit Id at given intervals.

'It wil-i be clear that vibrator relays V1 and V2 be replaced by any other system or device (fr feiiample a cam and motor of known type) which will close a contact, such as' contact T1 of relay V'z, at ven-i'nt31"`\'fa1s.4

Ifit is desired to 'transmit impulses at 126 o'f d intervals, for examplgwthe switch is placed inpositioii G2, before key MM is depressed. when key is depressed, 1 1, produces puisations by means of vibrator relays Vi and V2 as just descrip-ed; reiay v2 is energized for the first nmaan' impulse is transmitted over wire Iu dueto tliec'losing of contact T1 of relay r.V Tirefollowing circuits are thereupon established; `rife-t circuit: ground, upper Contact C1, Contact df relay v1 (when the naar 1S enersized), contact R1' of relay' BB1, contacts C2, winding df `relay i, cattery. ,Relay I, when enerizedy its contact T1 and opens control circuit 1u. This idterrupnonof ddntroi circuit I occurs after transmission of the' mst impuls. Relay I` then holds its contactsover the sn ci by means `of its contact T2. Seciid-` circuiti groiidhconftacts C1 (in rest positin?, 'radi relay v1, R2 of relay Am, lower windings of relays AA; and AA2, batteur.` Third circuiti ground, contacts C1, T3 of relay V1, Tzx

gized, the upper winding of relay AAz is'fno longer supplied with current A(due to the' return l' to normal of the contacts of relay V1), and relay AAz is energized over its lower winding,1 in parallel with relay AA1, via T1 of AA1, T2 of I," contacts C1 and ground.

When relay V1 is now re-energized, differential relay BB1 is energized over the following circuit: battery, lower winding of BB1, R2 off BB1, T21: of AAz, T3 of V1, C1 and ground. It holds then over its contact T1. On the other hand,fdiierential relay BBz remains inoperative, the same as explained in connection with relay AAz, namely, both its windings being supplied, their opposed actions prevent the energization of the relay; Furthermore, relay AA1, whose upper winding is fed over the same circuit, across Tzx of AA2re turns to normal, the action of its lower winding being balanced by that ofV its upper winding. When relay V1 releases'its contacts again, relay AAz, which was held over R2 of relayAA1, is de-energized. However, relay BBz, whose upper winding is no longer supplied over T211 of AAz, is energized over: battery, lower winding of BB2, T1 of BB1, T2 of I, contacts C1, and ground. Relays BB1 and BBz are thus energized, and as a result the circuit of relay I iszbroken at contacts T1 of BB1 and T1x of BBz. Relay I is thus de-energized and releases its contacts. Inasmuch as at this moment'relay V1 is deenergized and relay V2 is energized, an impulse is transmitted over wire I over contacts T1 of V2 and R1 of I. Due to the fact that relay I'has. returned vto normal', as just explained, its contact T2 is open and the holding circuit of relays BB1 and BBzV is broken. Relays BB1 and BBz thus likewise return to normal. As soon as relay V1 is re-energized, the energizing circuitof holding relay I is restored and relay I is re-energized. Thus, the operating cycle of relays yAA1, AAz, BB1 and BB2 is repeated and an impulse is transmitted at the end of each cycle. It will be clear, that this operating cycle is repeated as long as. starting key MM of the vibrator relay or the like is kept in operating position.

If it is desired to transmit impulses at intervals of 1% of a second, for example, the following cycle of operations takes place:

First, the switch is brought yinto position C5.y Key MM is then depressed and the operation of relays V1 and V2 takes place as previously described, a first impulse .being transmitted over transmitting circuit wire In when relay Vz is energized. As soon as relay V1 is energized, the holding circuit of relay I is completed' over: battery, winding of relayI, lower pair of contacts C5, R1 of relay AA1, Tz of V1, contacts C1 and ground. Moreover, relay AA1 is energized, over the following circuit: ground, contacts C1, T3 of V1, R2 of AA1, lower winding of relay'AAi.' Relay AA2, whose two windings are fed, remains inoperative as previously described.` Whenrelay V1 releases its contacts, relay AAz is enerrelay'AA1 releases its contacts.

gized, because its upper winding is no longer fed. When relay V1 is energized for the second time, relay BB1 is energized and relay AA1 releases its Contacts, as explained in the aforegiven example. Likewise, as soon as relay V1 releases its contacts again, relay AAz releases its contacts, in turn, and relay BBz is energized. Relay I, however, remains in holding position over the following holding circuit: ground, contact C1, T2 0f I, T1 of CC1 (01 Tix of CCz), up-

per ypair of contacts Cs, winding of relay I, battery.` When relay V1 is energized for the third time, relay A1 is re-energized as before. When yrelay V1 releases again, relay AAz is energized in its turn. When relay V1 is now energized for the fourth time, relay BBz is energized again and Also, relay CC1 is energized over: battery, lower winding of CC1,

R2 of CC1, Ta of B132, T2X of AA2, T3 of v1, e011- tacts C1 and ground. When relay V1 releases again,l relays AAz and BBz release their contacts and relay CO2 is energized. When relay V1 is thereupon energized for the fth time, relay AA1.- is "re-energized, while relays CC1 and CO2 remain in holding position.

Fin'ally,fwhen relay V1 releases its contacts, and relay Vz is energized, relay AAz is energized. At thisV moment, the holding circuit of relay I is broken', as follows: as to the lower pair of contacts of C5, the circuit is broken at contact T1 of AA1 and Contact T1X of AAz; and, as to the upper pair of contacts C5, the circuit is broken at Contact T1 of CC1 and contact T1x of CCz. Relay I thus returns to normal and brings about deenergization of relays AA1, AAz, CC1 and CCz due to the opening of contact T2 of I. On the other hand, relay V2 is energized, and an impulse is transmitted over transmitting wire 111.

The energizing circuit of relay I is restored by the return to normal of relays AA1 and AA2, CC1 and CCz. Relay I is re-energized when relay V1 is energized again and the cycle of operations described repeats itself, an impulse being transmitted at theend of each cycle.

' In "the examples given above, transmission of impulses took place at intervalsv of 1/10, 2/io and W10 of a second. The accompanying drawing outlines the circuits for transmission of impulses at the following intervals: 1/10 toe/10 of a second; and at 1%0, 15/10, 2%0, 25/10 and 3%0 of a second- In each'c'ase, the cycle of operations is as already described, each new combination of contacts involving the energization of a group of differential relays Vor the return to normal of one or more of these relays.

l It should be noted that the intervals mentioned in the foregoing specication are given merely by way of example without intention of limiting the invention'thereto. Indeed, these particular intervals'could'be replaced by any other desired range of time intervals determining the pulsation frequency of the vibrator relays, or any other known equivalent device,v without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Similarly, the arrangement of the switching devicev` and contacts could be modied so as to per- `transmission of impules at intervals representing multiplesl of the interval range chosen, same'amounting, in the above given example, to one to thirty-two.

claim:

11.'In a system of the character described, a transmitting circuit, operating means intermittently opening and` closing said transmitting circuit to transmitintermittent impulses over the encased saine, a holding circuit including a holding: relay supplied thereby, a nrst. holding contact disposed in said transmitting circuit andi opened. andi closed by said holding relay,` said holding: circuit including a plurality of branches terminating. in-` a common return line,` a second holding contact'v disposed in said holding circuitandi adapted toV be opened and closed by said holding relay',v contact meansdisposed insaid return linev and'` op'- erated by said operating means-to'intermittently open and close said return line,- switch contacts disposed in said branches, switch means adapted to actuate a plurality of switch contacts of dilfer'- ent branches simultaneously, to connecty said branches to or disconnect sal-ne from Said returrr line, control circuits associated with said branches, the said second holding contact, and? said contact mean-s, said control' circuits being! interconnected and adapted to be energized in s'equence, each control circuit including relays under the control of said operating means connected to be operable to open different respective branches of the holding circuit and there-by permit closing or" the transmitting circuit only after energizing of the preceding control circuits, whereby, depending upon the actuation of said switchcontacts, various sequences of control circuits may be connected to said return line.

2. In a system of the character described, a transmitting circuit, operating mean-s intermittently opening and closing said transmitting circuit to transmit intermittent impulses over the" same, a holding circuit including a holding relay supplied thereby, a first holding con-tact disposed in said transmitting circuit andV opened and closed by said holding relay, said holding circuit including a plurality of branches terminating in a common return line, a second holdingv contact disposed in said holding circuit and adapted to be opened and closed by said holding relay, contact means disposed in said return line and operated by said operating means to intermittently open and close said returny line, switch contacts disposed in said branches, switch means adapted to actuate a plurality of switch contacts of dif-l ferent branches simultaneously, to connect said branches to or disconnect same from said return line, control contacts associated with said branches and said return line, control circuits as-- sociated with said branches, the said second holding contact and said contact means, said con-Y trol circuits including control relays adapted to actuate said control contacts, said control circuits being interconnected and adapted to be ener--A gized in sequence, each control circuit including relays under the control oi said operating means connected to be operable to open different respece tive branches of the holding circuit and thereby permit closing of the transmitting circuit only after energizing of the preceding control circuits, whereby depending. upon the actuation of said switch contacts, various sequences of control circuits may be connected to said return line".

3. In a system of the character described, a transmitting circuit, operating means intermittently opening and closing said transmitting circuit to transmit intermittent impulses over the same, aholding circuit including a holding relay supplied thereby, a first holding contact disposed in said transmitting circuit and opened and closed by said holding relay, said holding circuit including a plurality of branches terminating in a common return line, a second holding contact disposed in said holding circuit and adapted to be opened and closed by said holding relay, Contact means. disposed in. said returnlline and operated by said? operating means to intermittently open andi close said return line, switch contacts disposed in said branches, switch means adapted to actuate a plurality of switch contacts of different branches simultaneously, to connect said branches to or disconnect same from said return line, a pair of differential relays assigned to each branch, each differential relay having a pair of opposite windings and a feeding circuit therefor, a plurality of control contacts associated with said return line in the respective branches thereof and adapted to be operated by said difieren-V tial relays, the latter being interconnected so as to be: operative in sequence, each diierential relay being. under the control of said operating means connected to be operable to open different respective branches of the holding' circuit and thereby permit closing of thetransmitting circuit only after energizing of the preceding differential relays, whereby, depending upon the actuation of said switch contacts, various branches may be connected to said return line to control the sequence' ot the respective differential relays, the sequence of energization of the latter determning the time interval during which said holding circuit is closed and' said transmitting circuit held open against closing by the operating means. l

4.. In a system of the character described, a transmitting circuit, operating means intermittently opening and closing said transmitting circuit totransmit intermittent impulses over the same, a holding circuit including a holding relay supplied thereby, a nrst holding contact disposed in said transmitting circuit and opened and closed by said holding relay, said holding circuit including a plurality of branches terminating in a common return line, a second holding contact disposed in said holding circuit and adapted to be opened and closed by said holding relay, contact means disposed insaid return line and operated by said operating means to intermittently open and close said return line, switch contacts disposed in said branches, switch means adapted to actuate a plurality of switch contacts of difierent` branches simultaneously, to connect said branches to or disconnect same from said return line, a pair of contact pieces connecting the terminal end of each branch to said return line, a cooperating contact disposed opposite the rst contact piece of each pair, a pair of diiierential relays associated with each pair of contact pieces, each differential relay having oppostely arranged windings, a control circuit for each winding, the control circuits of the different windings including other relays under the control of said operating means connected to be operable to open different respective branches of the holding circuit and thereby permit closing oi the transmitting circuit only after energizing of the preceding control circuit, conductive means connecting the first pair of differential relays to said contact means, intermediate contacts connected to said conductive means and the control circuits of said first pair of differential relays, the latter co-ntrolling said intermediate relays, whereby said control circuits are intermittently closed by said contact means and said branches disconnected in sequence according to the actuation of said switch contacts, whereby said holding circuit is closed and the transmitting circuit held open against closing by the operating means for such interval of time as is consumed for energization of the selected sequence of diiierential relays.

5. The system claimed in claim 4, in which the lower windings of each pair of differential relays are connected in parallel.

6. The system claimed in claim 4, in which the control circuit of the upper winding of the rst differential relay of the rst pair is connected to both lower windings of the second pair and the upper Winding of the second relay of the second pair and so forth.

7. The system claimed in claim 4, in which the lower windings of each pair of differential relays are connected in parallel and the control circuit of the upper winding of the rst differential relay of the rst pair is connected to both lower windings of the second pair and the upper winding of the second relay of the second pair and so forth.

8. In a system of the character described, a transmitting circuit, operating means for intermittently interrupting said transmitting circuit to transmit impulses over same, a rst holding contact in said transmitting circuit, a holding circuit, a relay adapted to be energized by said holding circuit, said holding relay controlling said first holding contact to open or close said transmitting circuit independently of said operating means, said holding circuit comprising a plurality oi branches terminating in a single return line, a second holding contact disposed in said return line and controlled by said holding relay, interrupting means disposed in said return line and controlled by said operating means to intermittently open or close said return line, switch contacts for connecting and disconnecting the individual branches, switch means adapted to open or close a pair of control relays assigned to each branch, energizing circuits for said control relays, a return line common to all said branches and said energizing circuits; a second holding contact disposed in said return line and controlled by said holding relay to open or close said holding circuit, control contacts associated with said control relays and said return line, said control relays being adapted to successively act upon said return line through the respective control contacts in order to keep said holding circuit-l closed during work position of said operating means, the number of control relays energized depending upon the number and combination of switch contacts closed by said switch means, whereby said second holding relay will keep the holding circuit closed and said transmitting circuit open against closing by the operating means during a predetermined num-ber of interruptions by said operating means, representing the interval of time corresponding to the position of said switch.

9. The system claimed in claim 1, in which said operating means comprises an operating circuit, a rst relay energized by said circuit, a rst cooperating contact disposed in said transmitting line and controlled by said rst relay; an interrupter circuit, a second relay disposed in said interruptor circuit, a second cooperating contact disposed in said interrupter circuit and controlled by said first relay; a third cooperating contact disposed in said operating circuit and controlled by said second relay and a key to open and close said operating circuit, whereby in closed position of said key said transmitting circuit is intermittently opened.

10. The system claimed in claim 1, in which said operating means comprises an operating circuit, a first relay energized by said circuit, a first cooperating contact disposed in said transmitting line and controlled by said first relay; an interrupter circuit, a second relay disposed in said interrupter circuit, a second cooperating contact disposed in said interrupter circuit and controlled by said first relay; a third cooperating contact disposed in said operating circuit and controlled by said second relay, the latter cooperating with said contact means; said contact means comprising a pair of contacts, one of the latter being connected with said control circuits and the second of the latter contacts being connected to said return line; and a key to open and close said operating circuit, whereby in closed position of said key said transmitting circuit is intermittently opened.

11. In a system of the character described, a transmitting circuit, operating means for1 transmitting intermittent impulses over said transmitting circuit, a holding circuit including a holding relay, first holding contacts disposed in said transmitting circuit and controlled by said holding relay to open and close said transmitting circuit, said holding circuit comprising a plurality of branches terminating in a common return line, second holding contacts disposed in said return line and adapted to open and close the holding circuit; third holding contacts disposed in said return line and intermittently opened and closed by said operating means, switch contact associated with each branch, switch means adapted to open and close a plurality of switch contacts of different branches, simultaneously, to connect one or more of said branches to said return line in selected combinations; said third holding contacts, when closed by said operating means, close said holding circuit over a plurality of branches according to the position of said switch, causing closing of said first holding contacts, a plurality of control circuits associated with said branches and said second holding contacts to maintain the latter in closed position, said control circuits being interconnected and adapted to be closed independently by said third holding contacts and said second holding contacts, said control circuits being interconnected for operation in sequence, each control circuit including relays under the control of said operating mea-ns connected to be operable to open dilerent respective branches of the holding circuit and thereby permit closing of the transmitting circuit only after energizing of the preceding control circuits, whereby said holding circuit remains closed interrupting transmission of impulses until the last control circuit of the sequence cut in by said switch has been energized, whereupon said holding circuit is broken, an impulse transmitted and the cycle of operations repeated.

AMEDEE A. C. HER/ON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the lile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,114,255 Powell Apr, 12, 1938 2,281,396 Vibbard Apr. 28, 1942 1,957,672 Saunders May 8, 1934 1,620,169 Sorensen Mar. 8, 1927 

